Dear Night Staff

By Maxy S

Dear Night Staff

You watch me sleep

and pretend to sleep

In shifts that cycle

twice a week

For roughly

ten seconds at a time

Spaced fourteen times

throughout the night 

What do you feel

when you look at me?

Derision???

Disinterest?

Uncertainty?

Commitment?

Fulfillment??

Camaraderie?

Do you imagine

what I am like?

Do you imagine

that I do for you?

Do you expect me

to be sleeping a certain

way by a certain time?

Does my breathing

change?

Do I mumble

or sigh?

Do I snore

much?

Can you tell when

I’m dreaming?

Do you notice

new haircuts?

Isn’t it a funny kind

of company!

That stock-still I am

for you,

and silent you are

for me.

We make the other

comfortable by

becoming as not-there

as possible.

When you put in your

two weeks and see me

for the last night,

I haven’t gotten a good

look at you even once.

Maybe you think,

“Goodbye! Good luck!”